Come Next Season

"Come summer, / we'll visit the lake./ When we spot a sparkle through the trees, / we'll race to the rope, bellowing/ 'Cannonbaaall!' " Readers follow a child's joyful leap to splash into this loping evocation of specific seasonal joys, among them gathering pecans, sledding, and getting a puppy from a farm. Norman's text follows two siblings through the turning seasons, evoking a fantasy of rural childhood in a four-season climate, where in summer, "it will be our job to shuck the corn for supper./ We'll eat outside, smacking mosquitoes/ between buttery bites," and in winter, "sorting puzzles on the carpet, / we'll look up when a TV voice says, / 'Snow tomorrow!' " Miyares's bright illustrations combine washes of vibrant color with earnest details: overalls and ball caps, red barns and rag rugs, pecan trees and tire swings. The story offers well-established seasonal repertoire in a skillful, appealing presentation. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--Norman's brief, lyrical text accompanied by Miyares's colorful, equally poetic illustrations records a cycle of seasons. As a brother and sister anticipate the joys awaiting them on the calendar pages they share memories of previous seasons. Memories of eating "buttery bites" of corn on the cob while "smacking mosquitoes" in summer, choosing to be "out" of doors in the fall and "in" come winter, and getting a "fuzzy friend" with "silky ears" in spring. Family oriented, gently appealing with its bright pages recording the certainty of a year in procession, this is a year-round celebration. VERDICT A book for all seasons, perfect for individual or small group sharing.--Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

"Norman expertly conjures what seasonal change feels like in the country with delicious sensory details and warm, family togetherness. . .Wholesome, cozy, and nostalgic; pitch perfect." —Kirkus Reviews